Monthly Archives: March 2013

Would not have intentionally upgraded to the experience. It was thrust on me in a new laptop. Hated it. So many programs (err, “apps”) cluttered the screen. The first thing I learned was navigate to the traditional desktop, which promptly was organized as accustomed. From there could launch Chrome and have my reassuring browser with preset tabs still remembered by Google. Relieved. I could live with this.

Still it was necessary to stumble through unfamiliar territory for certain settings. Also those annoying flashing apps were greeting me at every sign on. Initially I adapted as I had to the original Windows, accepting it as a presentation layer on top of DOS, designed only for those not tech savvy. Similarly Windows 8 seemed nonessential bling, now on top of regular Windows.

Resisting change back then had resorted to the command line longer than necessary. It didn’t help that early versions of Windows were truly buggy. As imposing as it appeared, at least this didn’t crash. It wasn’t long until experimenting with the live mail app and preferring it to the browser. Next tried social apps, Facebook and Twitter, and decided those had merit also. Less and less found myself needing to visit the old desktop.

The annoyance of so many unused apps pre-installed was also ingrained from the days of limited storage. With my android must still be careful how many apps I choose to load. Acknowledging how much larger the computer’s drive was than phone’s storage, with everything I need loaded, even media, am just using a small fraction of capacity. All that was necessary was to unpin anything unused and arrange the look and feel to the degree allowed.

Now have advanced to where I understand the new design as a layer not on top of, but alongside and eventually replacing earlier Windows. That distinction hit investigating why there were two Skydrive apps pre-installed and their differences. One is an app, the other a traditional application. Further explanation is beyond the scope of my short rants. For the curious, Paul Thruut has better clarification here.